Window alarm device



Jan. 13, 1959 A. s. LOPEZ wmnow ALARM DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.0510 BY 5 F Filed June 27, 1957 Jan. 13, 1959 Filed June 27, 1957 A. s.LOPEZ 2,868,915

WINDOW ALARM DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W "mu J11 Z m 82 v t I h h m,

1N VENTOR.

BY A 7' ORNE Y A.s. LOPEZ wnmow ALARM DEVICE Jan. 13, 1959 I 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filgd June 27. 1957 INVENTOR. AV/bnsa filo 022 BY ITTUENEK limited States Patent WINDOW ALARM DEVICE Alfonso Lopez, QueensVillage, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1957, Serial No. 668,529

3 Claims. (Cl. Mil-61.72)

This invention relates generally to alarm devices, and more particularlyhas reference to a device of this nature mountable upon one of thesashes of a double-hung window, in a position engaging the other sash,with the device being so designed as'to cause an alarm' to be energizedresponsive to any'relative movement of the sashes.

A continuing difficulty persists in providing alarm devices, designed todetect the opening of a window by a burglar or other unauthorizedindividual. It has been heretofore proposed to provide window-mountedalarm devices, and the present invention does not encompass such devicesin the broadest aspects. Rather, the invention is directed to animproved construction for a device falling within this category.

One important object of the present invention is to provide. awindow-mounted alarm device, usable to particular advantage ondouble-hung windows, which device will be extremelysensitive to anyrelative movement of the sashes, so as to cause the alarm to beenergized instantly, responsive even to a very slight movement of thesashes relative to each other.

Another object is to so design the alarm device that although mountedupon the lower sash in position engaging the other sash, it will operateto energize the alarm regardless of which sash is moved.

A further object is to permit the alarm device to operate whether thewindows are in closed or in open position, that. is, the device iscapable of use. even in instances in which oneof the sashes is left openfor ventilation purposes.

Another objectis toprovide an alarm device of the character stated thatwill be of a particularly improved, simplified construction, so as topermit its manufacture at relatively low cost.

Still another object is to facilitate the mounting of the device upon awindow.

A further object is to permit adjustments to be made for accommodatingthe device to sashes of different thickness.

Still another object is to permit further adjustments to be made asregards the tensioning of spring means associated with the device, withthis adjustment being such as to permit selective variation of thetension used upon a swingable spacer device that normally holds thealarm in its set position.

Still another object is to permit selective variations in the tensionprovided in a spring means that is used for biasing a movable portion ofthe switch device to its switch-closing position from its set orswitch-opening position.

Still another object is to permit the device to be rendered inoperativeby the householder whenever desired, so that the windows can he openedor closed without sounding of the alarm.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objectsandadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawspasms Ratented Jan. 13, 1959 'ice ings, and to theappended claims in which the various novel features of the invention aremore particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a window on which is mounted analarm device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view substantially on line 22of Fig. 1, showing the device in side elevation, said device being shownin full and dotted lines in its switch-closing and opening positions,respectively, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, on the same scale as Pi 2, asseen from the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view longitudinally through the device,substantially on line of Fig. 3, the scale being enlarged still further,the device being shown in its switch-closing and opening positions infull and dotted lines, respectively.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the same scale as Fig. 4,substantially on line of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, on the same scale as Fig. 4,taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, on a. scale slightly smaller than that ofFig. 4, of the swingable plate or shell of the device.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a spring connector plate element.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a slidably adjustable spacer yokesupport plate.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the stationary base.

Referring to the drawings in detail, designated generally at it is aconventional frame of a double-hung window, said window including therelatively vertically slidable lower and upper sashes 12, 14,respectively, the lower sash having the horizontally extending top rail36, while the upper sash has the pane iii. The remaining portions of thesashes need not be described, since they have no particular importanceor function in the operation of the device.

The device constituting the present invention has been generallydesignated at 2d. As will be noted from Fig. 1, the device is adapted tobe mounted upon the top rail 16 of the lower sash. It will beunderstood, however, that this is merely a preferred mounting of theinvention, and it is believed that in some forms in which the device maybe commercially manufactured, it might be mounted upon the, upper sash,to contact the lower sash. Then again, the device could operate onrelative movement of horizontally rather than vertically shiftablesashes, this beinga desirable characteristic of the invention in view ofthe comparatively recent popularity of windows of the latter type. Stillfurther, it is believed that the device may quite possibly be used onsashes having metal frames, rather than the wooden frames illustrated.All these possible modifications are thought sufliciently obvious as notto require special illustration herein.

In any event, in the illustrated example the device includes a base 22(Figs. 4 and 10), which is of rightanguiar or inverted l..-shape,including a horizontal upper leg 23 and a vertically depending lower leg25.

In the illustrated example the base, as well as the swingable shell andthe slidably adjustable yoke support plate, is formed of molded plastic,since this is a readily molded, inexpensive, electrically insulativematerial. Alternatively, these parts could be made of metal, but in thisevent it would, of course, be necessary to use electrical insulation atcertain locations on the components, to prevent short-circuiting orelectric shocks.

In any event, the base 22, at the distal end of the horizontal leg 23,is integrally formed with an upwardly 2,sae,915

3 projecting, transversely extending wall 24, braced at opposite sidesof leg 23 by triangular extensions 26 integral with the body portion ofthe leg 23 and the end wall 24 thereof.

Adjacent the lower, distal end of the leg 25, there is formed, mediallybetween opposite sides of said leg 25, an opening 28. Integrally formedupon the opposite sides of the leg 23 and projecting laterally outwardlytherefrom are apertured ears 3d. Extendable through the opening 28 andthrough the apertures of the ears 30 are lag screws 32, 34 respectively(Fig. 4) fixedly connecting the base to the top rail 16 in a positionembrac mg the top rail. As will presently appear, the entire device canbe preassembled, so as to be sold as a unitary assembly, which assemblycan be mounted upon the window in operative position merely byconnecting the screws 32, 34 to the top rail 16 of the lower sash 12. Ofcourse, other means can be employed for connecting the device to the toprail, and it may be desired to use threaded hooks or nails, or othermeans that could be readily removed whenever desired if it is intendedto remove the alarm device for use elsewhere. These, of course,constitute relatively minor details that do not have any particularlyimportant bearing on the successful operation of the invention.

Integrally formed upon the opposite sides of and projecting outwardlyfrom leg 25 are transversely aligned, vertically disposed ears orbrackets 36, having transversely aligned openings. brackets 36 are theside walls of the vertically depending leg of the swingable shell 37.Shell 37, as shown in Fig. 7, is of right-angular or inverted L-shape,and is of channel formation, with the channel opening toward the base22. The channeled plate constituting the shell has been designated at33, and is molded of a single piece of plastic or other electricallyinsulative material in the preferred, illustrated embodiment.

Shell 37 has its channeled, vertically depending leg in embracingrelation to the brackets 36, and formed in the walls of said leg areopenings aligned with the openings of the brackets or ears 36 to receivepivot pins 40, whereby the shell is mounted for swinging movementbetween the full and dotted line positions of Fig. 4, about a horizontalaxis extending transversely of the base outwardly a short distance fromtop rail 16 of bottom sash 12, in parallel relation to said top rail 16.

The side walls of the shell 37 have been designated at 42.

Referring to Fig. 4, resilient, yielding means is connected between thebase and the shell, tending to normally swing the shell about its axis40 to the full line position shown in this figure of the drawing. Saidmeans comprises a contractile, coil spring 44, one end of which ishooked through an opening provided in end wall 24, with the other end ofthe spring being hooked through the eye of an eye bolt 46 that is loosein an opening of the vertical leg of shell 37, and that is threadedlyengaged with a nut 48 bearing against the outer surface of said verticalleg.

It will be apparent that by rotating the nut 48 in a selected direction,the tension of the spring 44 can be increased or decreased, as desired,so that in this way, there is an adjustment of the force with which theshell is normally urged to its full, switch-closing position of Fig. 4.The adjustment can be made from a location exteriorly of the shell 37 asclearly apparent from Fig. 4, thus facilitating the making ofadjustments with the device in its mounted position, so that theadjustments can be checked to determine if they are the best possibleadjustments that can be made considering the circumstances of theparticular mounting of the device.

Referring to Fig. 7, formed in the horizontal leg of the shell 37,adjacent the juncture of said horizontal leg with the vertical leg ofthe shell, is a comparativelylarge, circular aperture 56 disposedmedially between opposite In embracing relation to the sides of saidhorizontal leg and receiving a manually operated switch 52 that isconventional per se, and that has a rotary switch button projectingupwardly from the horizontal leg of the shell. Switch 52 constitutes amain control switch, which can be manually operated in a manner to bemade presently apparent, for the purpose of rendering the deviceinoperative whenever desired.

Also formed in the horizontal leg of shell 37, and extending along thelongitudinal median thereof, is an elongated closed slot 54.

A spacer yoke support plate 56 (Figs. 4 and 9) constitutes another oneof the main components of the invention, and is also, in the illustratedembodiment but not necessarily, formed of a single piece of moldedplastic material. Support plate 56 is of channeled formation, includingdepending side walls 58, which are inslidable contact with the innersurfaces of the side walls 42. Thus, the channeled horizontal leg ofshell 37 is in embracing relation to the support plate 56, with thesupport plate sliding in a path parallel to the length of the horizontalleg of the shell 37, toward and away from the pane 18 of the upper sash14. I

As readily seen from Figs. 4 and 9, the web of the support plate 56 hasa longitudinally, centrally extending, closed slot 60 aligned with theslot 54, for extension of a connecting bolt 62 through both of theslots. The upper portion of the bolt 62 (see Fig. 4) receives a wing nut64, which bears against the wide, horizontal, outer portion 66 of aright-angular spring connector element 68. Said upper portion of theelement 68 overlies the horizontal leg of the shell 37, with the bolt 62extending loosely through an opening of the element. The verticallydepending portion of the element is of a width less than the width ofthe slots 54, 60, and the free end of said vertically depending portionis apertured and extends downwardly within the support plate as clearlyshown in Fig. 4.

A contractile coil spring 70 is hooked at one end through the opening ofthe element, and at its other end is hooked through an opening formed inthe flattened, comparatively wide bight of a U-shaped yoke 72, the legsof which are formed with inwardly directed extensions or trunnions 73(Fig. 4) that are rotatably engaged in transversely aligned openingsformed in the side walls of the support plate 56. The yoke projectsbeyond the outer or forward end of the support plate 56, toward the paneor glass 18, or upper sash 14, and spring 70 is adapted to bias the yokeinto engagement with either of a pair of lugs 74 disposed, respectively,above and below the pivot axis of the yoke.

It will be understood that when the yoke is moved to a position in whichit would be wholly in a plane common to the plane of the pivot axis ofthe yoke and of the spring-receiving opening of the depending part ofthe element 68, the spring is on dead center, so that the yoke is notswung either upwardly or downwardly. The yoke is kept on dead center, inthese circumstances, by frictional engagement of the bight thereofagainst the glass 18.

The friction between the bight of the yoke 72 and the glass 18 isincreased by reason of the fact that the shell 37, which of coursecarries the yoke and the plate 56, is'under strong pressure tending tobias the same in the direction of the glass 18, due to the contractiletendency of the spring 44.

The device 20 may be mounted at any suitable location on the top rail16, preferably at or near the corner of the window where it could behidden from view with a window drape or the like.

As seen in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 1, an alarm unit 76 of the electricaltype, such as the buzzer, bell, gong, etc., may be mounted upon the wallat any desired location. Thus, the unit may be located either near or ata location remote from the window, Further, a single alarm unit 76 couldbe electrically connected to a plurality of the 5 alarm devices, wherebyto cause the alarm unit to be energized responsive to movement of anyone of said devices to a closed position. The wiring connections thatwould be involved in this instance are believed readily etfected by askilled electrician, and accordingly need not be detailed herein.

In any event, the alarm unit would, of course, be connected with asource of electricity, as shown at 78 in Fig. 4. The lead extending fromone'terminal of alarm unit 76 to one side of the source of electricityhas been designated at 80. The source could be a better, so as to powerthe device independently of the house wiring system and thereby insurethat the device will been energized even if the wiring system of thehouse is tampered with. Alternatively, the source could, of course,

be the conventional house supply.

Extending from the "other side of the source 78 is a lead 82, which asshown in Fig. 4 extends with a lead 84 in the sheath of an electric cord86 (Figs. 4 and 6).

Lead 82 is connected to a terminal or binding post 88, threadedlyengaged in an opening of the vertical leg of the base 22. Lead 84extends upwardly within the shell 37, and is connected to one terminalof the main control switch'S2. 'Extending from the-other terminal of theswitch 52 is a' lead 90, connected to a terminal screw 92, that extendsthrough an opening formed in the shell, in opposed relation to theterminal 88. A nut 94 threaded on the screw 92 holds the lead 90connected thereto, and in addition permits the screw 92 to be adjustedtoward or away from the terminal 88 to insure that a proper contact willbe made when the device is operated, and to insure, further, that whenthe device is in its set, dotted line position in Fig. 4, there will beno arcing between the terminals.

The screw 92 thus constitutes a bridging element, providing anelectrical connection between the leads 82, 90 whenever the device is inthe full line position of Fig. 4.

V The lead 84, as previously noted, is connected to one terminal of theswitch 52. Therefore, if the switch 52 is in open position, the devicecannot operate under any circumstances, even though it shifts to thefull line position of Fig.4. This is due to the fact that the circuitincluding the source of' electricity and the alarm unit 76 is opened bythe switch 52, even if the bridging element 92 is in engagement with theterminal 88.

Assuming that it is desired to use the device for detecting relativemovement of the sashes 12, 14, one would mount the device as shown inFigs. 1 and 4. Then, the device is swung outwardly from the upper sash,to the dotted line position of Fig. 4 and the yoke 72 is manually swungupwardly so that the spring 70 is on dead center. 'As previously noted,spring 44, being placed under increased tension, tends to swing theshell toward the pane 18, so that a secure frictional engagement ismaintained between the yoke and the pane. At the same time, however, anymovement of the sash 18 either upwardly or downwardly, or for thatmatter any upward ordownward movement of the lower sash 12 relative tothe upper sash, will cause the yoke 72 and spring 76 to move out of adead center position, with the yoke moving either upwardly ordownwardly, depending upon the direction of relative movement of thesashes. Therefore, spring '70 is now free to contract, and immediatelyswings the yoke '72 into engagement with the upper or lower stop lugs74, depending upon the direction in which the yoke was shifted by therelative movement of the sashes.

The spacer yoke thus no longer prevents swinging movement of the shell37 toward the glass 18. Spring 44, contracting, thus snaps the shell toits full line position of Fig. 4, causing bridging element 92 to contactterminal 88. Assuming that the switch 52 was previously irr'itscircuit-closing position, there will be closed, instantaneously, acircuit to the alarm unit 76 so that the alarm will sound.

Thus, it will be observed that on relative vertical movement of thesashes, resulting from movement of either sash from its previousposition, the alarm will sound. The device operates even on theslightest movement of a sash, the movement being no more than perhaps asmall fraction of an inch.

The device will, of course, operate whether the sashes are initially inclosed or in open position, and thus one may open one of the sashesslightly for the purpose of ventilation, and then set the device. Thedevice can be swiftly rendered inoperative by the householder wheneverdesired, to facilitate the opening or the closing of a window withoutsetting off the alarm. Nevertheless, the means for rendering the deviceinoperative is not readily accessible to an unauthorized individual,since it would be necessary that the sash, if it was opened onlyslightly, be opened to a further degree for the purpose of permittingone to insert his arm to turn the switch button of switch 52. It will benoted, in this connection, that the particular type of switch 52illustrated is merely illustrative of a main control switch. One could,if desired, locate the main control switch at a remote location,providing wiring connections thereto. Then again, one might desire touse a main control switch that could not be operated by an unauthorizedindividual under any circumstances, as for example a key-operated switchhaving the same basic characteristics as the ignition switch of anautomobile.

These changes are thought sufficiently obvious as not to require specialillustration herein.

A desirable characteristic of the invention results from the arrangementwherein the shell, base, support plate, and yoke can be allpreassembled, for mounting of the entire device as a unit on the sashmerely by extension of the screws through the openings provided in thebase plate.

Another important characteristic of the invention 1 resides not only inthe adaptability for making adjustby loosening the wing nut 64 andshifting the bolt 62 along the slots 54, 6%) to a selected location.Then, the nut 64 can be tightened once again, so that the spring 7%) isunder an adjusted amount of tension.

Of importance, also, is the fact that the support plate itself can bebodily adjusted within the horizontal leg of the upper shell, to spacethe pivot axis of the yoke 72 the prescribed distance from the plane ofthe glass 18 of the upper sash. In other words, a particular window mayhave rails on its sashes that differ in thickness from the rails ofother sashes. When the device is mounted, it will be desirable toprovide means for adjusting the position of the yoke relative to thesash that it is to contact. This is done by loosening the wing nuts 64,and adjusting the plate 56 in the direction of its length toward or awayfrom the glass 18 until the yoke 72 is properly positioned relative tothe glass.

An important characteristic of the invention, further resides in thefact that the same, adjustable means is used both for adjusting thetension of the spring 70 and for adjustably connecting the support plate56 to the shell. This means is the bolt 62 and the nut 64, and theelement 66, all connected together and movable bodily longitudinally ofthe horizontal leg of the shell 37 and of the plate 56, with said plate56 and the horizontal leg of the shell 37 being relativelylongitudinally movable as previously described. One can thus makeadjustments in the position of the plate 56 independently of or incombination with the adjustment of the tension of the spring; 7%, withthe same means being used for effecting both of these adjustments.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. An alarm device for a window including relatively slidable first andsecond sashes, to signal movement of one of said sashes relative to theother, comprising: a stationary support mountable upon the first sash,means swingably mounted upon said support for movement toward and awayfrom the second sash, a coil spring tensioned to bias said first meanstoward the second sash, a spacer movably carried by the first means andcngagin in one position to which it is moved, against the second sash tohold the first means against movement toward the second sash, saidspacer being movable from said position thereof responsive to relativemovement of the sashes to free the first means for movement toward thesecond sash, and terminals carried by the first means and said supportrespectively and contacting to permit closing of an alarm circuittherethrough on movement of the first means toward the second sash, thefirst means including an angular member one leg of which is pivoted uponsaid support with the other leg projecting toward the second sash andcarrying said spacer, said first means further including a support platemounted upon said other leg for adjustment toward and away from thesecond sash and carrying the spacer, said spacer comprising a U-shapedyoke the bight of which is adapted to engage said second sash with thelegs of the yoke being pivotally connected to the support plate, thefirst means further including a connecting bolt for connecting thesupport plate to the other leg of said member, said other member andsupport plate having registering longitudinal slots through which thebolt extends to effect relative adjustments of the support plate andsaid other leg, a wing nut carried by the bolt for binding the supportplate and said other leg against relative movement in selected positionsto which the support plate is shifted, an element carried by theconnecting bolt for movement therewith within the slots, and acontractile spring connected between the bight of the yoke and saidelement for normally biasing the yoke out of its position engaging thesecond sash, said contractile spring, in the second sash-engagingposition of the yoke, being on dead center with said coil springexerting a pressure against the angular member tending to maintain theyoke in frictional engagement with the second sash when the contractilespring is on dead center.

2. An alarm device for a window including relatively slidable first andsecond sashes, to signal movement of one of said sashes relative to theother, comprising: a stationary support mountable upon the first sash,means swingably mounted upon said support for movement toward and awayfrom the second sash, a coil spring tensioned to bias said first meanstoward the second sash, a spacer movably carried by the first means andengaging, in one position to which it is moved, against the second sashto hold the first means against movement toward the second sash, saidspacer being movable from said position thereof responsive to relativemovement of the sashes to free the first means for movement toward thesecond sash, and terminals carried by the first means and said supportrespectively and contacting to permit closing of an alarm circuittherethrough on movement of the first means toward the second sash, thefirst means including an angular member one leg of which is pivoted uponsaid support with the other leg projecting toward the second sash andcarrying said spacer, said first means further including a support platemounted upon said other leg for adjustment toward and away from the second sash and carrying the spacer, said spacer comprising a U-shapedyoke the bight of which is adapted to engage said second sash with thelegs of the yoke being pivotally connected to the support plate, thefirst means further including a connecting bolt for connecting thesupport plate to the other leg of said member, said other member andsupport plate having registering longitudinal slots through which thebolt extends to effect relative adjustments of the support plate andsaid other leg, a wing nut carried by the bolt for binding the supportplate and said other leg against relative movement in selected positionsto which the support plate is shifted, an element carried by theconnecting bolt for movement therewith within the slots, and acontractile spring connected between the bight of the yoke and saidelement for normally biasing the yoke out of its position engaging thesecond sash, said contractile spring, in the second sash-engagingposition of the yoke, being on dead center with said coil springexerting a pressure against the angular member tending to maintain theyoke in frictional engagement with the second sash when the contractilespring is on dead center, said yoke being mounted for swinging movementin either direction from said position thereof, responsive to biasingthe yoke from said position responsive to relative movement of thesashes, whereby to free the contractile spring for contraction to shiftthe yoke out of engagement with the second sash, whereby to free thefirst means for movement toward the second sash, the support plateincluding lugs at opposite sides of the pivot axis of the yoke forlimiting swinging movement of the yoke in either direction from saidposition thereof.

3. An alarm device for a window including relatively slidable first andsecond sashes, to signal movement of one of said sashes relative to theother, comprising: a stationary support mountable upon the first sash,means swingably mounted upon said support for movement toward and awayfrom the second sash, resilient, yielding means tensioned to bias saidfirst means toward the second sash, a spacer movably carried by thefirst means and engaging, in one position to which it is moved, againstthe second sash to hold the first means against movement toward thesecond sash, said spacer being movable from said position thereofresponsive to relative movement of the sashes to free the first meansfor movement toward the second sash, and terminals carried by the firstmeans and said support respectively and contacting to permit closing ofan alarm circuit therethrough on movement of the first means toward thesecond sash, the first means including an angular member one leg ofwhich is pivoted upon said support with the other leg projecting towardthe second sash and carrying said spacer, said first means furtherincluding a support plate mounted upon said other leg for adjustmenttoward and away from the second sash and carrying the spacer, saidspacer comprising a U-shaped yoke the bight of which is adapted toengage said second sash with the legs of the yoke being pivotallyconnected to the support plate, the first means further including aconnecting bolt for connecting the support plate to the other leg ofsaid member, said other member and support plate having registeringlongitudinal slots through which the bolt extends to effect relativeadjustments of the support plate and said other leg, a wing nut carriedby the bolt for binding the support plate and said other leg againstrelative movement in selected positions to which the support plate isshifted, an element carried by the connecting bolt for movementtherewith within the slots, and a contractile spring connected betweenthe bight of the yoke and said element for normally biasing the yoke outof its position engaging the second sash, said spring, in the secondsash-engaging position of the yoke, being on dead center with saidresilient, yielding means exerting a pressure against the angular membertending to maintain the yoke in frictional engagement with the secondsash when the spring is on dead center, said yoke being mounted forswinging movement in either direction from said position thereof,responsive tobiasing the yoke from said position responsive to relativemovement of the sashes, whereby to free the spring for contraction toshift the yoke out of engagement with the second sash, whereby to freethe first means for movement toward the second sash, the support plateincluding lugs at opposite sides of the pivot axis of the yoke forlimiting swinging movement of the yoke in either direction from saidposition 10 thereof, said resilient, yielding means comprising a eoiispring connected between the support and said angular member, theconnection of the spring to one of the supports and member beingadjustable for selective variation 5 of the tension of said second-namedspring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,793,359 Ziemba May 21, 1957

